Mission Valley El Paso

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Mission Valley is an area of El Paso, Texas. It includes part of Eastside and all Lower Valley districts. It is the third largest area of the city, behind East El Paso and Central El Paso. Hawkins Road and Interstate 10 border the Mission Valley. This location is considered the oldest area of El Paso, dating back to the late 17th century when present day Texas was under the rule of Nueva España (New Spain).

In 1680, the Isleta Pueblo tribe revolted against the Spaniards who were forced rushing south to present day El Paso. Here, some Spaniards and tribe members settled here permanently. Soon afterward, three Spanish missions were built and remain standing currently functioning as churches:Ysleta Mission-1682 (La Misión de Corpus Christide San Antonio de la Ysleta del Sur/Our Lady of Mt. Carmel), Socorro Mission-1759 (Nuestra Señora de la Concepción del Socorro)-1759 and San Elizario Chapel (Capilla de San Elcear)-1789.

On April 30, 1598, the northward-bound Spanish (Old World and New World Spaniards (latter one is future Mexicans) conquistadors crossed an enormous sand dunes about 27 miles south of present day Downtown El Paso. They saw a welcoming sight of lush green valley and fresh cold water of the Rio Grande. It was claimed that the expedition parties and their horses ran toward the river. Two horses drank themselves to death with bursted stomachs. Don Juan de Oñate, a New Spain (present-day Mexico) born conquistador of Spanish parents, was an expedition leader who ordered a big feast north of the Rio Grande in present day San Elizario. This was the first documented and true Thanksgiving in North America. Oñate declared La Toma (The Possession) legally claiming all territory north of the Rio Grande now belongs and falls under Spain sovergnity for King Philip II.

Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo (related to the revolting Isleta Pueblo Tribe) is also located in this valley. The Tigua (pronounced Tiwa) is one of three Indian tribes in Texas to be recognized its sovergnity by the United States Government.

Some people in this area and twin city across the river, Ciudad Juarez, are direct descendants of the Spanish settlers.

[edit] Neighborhoods

Here is a list of some neighborhoods in the Mission Valley:

  • Alta Vista
  • Cedar Grove Park
  • Del Norte Heights
  • Hacienda Heights
  • Hidden Valley
  • Lakeside
  • Marion Manor
  • Loma Terrace
  • Mesa Vista
  • Thomas Manor
  • Rosedale Manor
  • San Jose
  • Tigua
  • Ysleta
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